Actually, bad habits in general do not exist. What is a bad habit for one person may work just fine for another. Therefore, it is different for every parent and every child. Bad habits are therefore those habits that do not suit you, do not suit your child or do not fit your situation.
So you want to do things that do suit you, your child and your situation. Because then you get the habits that are 'good' for you. Does that mean you should never do anything that could become a 'bad' habit? Thankfully not, because you are only human too and sometimes things just run a little differently.
Our tip to avoid bad habits: use the 1-2-3 rule
1. Doing something different for once can
2. The second time you need to make a plan
3. So that it doesn't happen the third time (and you don't introduce an unwanted habit)
For example. Your baby is restless at night and you have an important appointment the next day. You take your baby to bed (in a safe way) and you both sleep for a few more hours. Is this possible or are you introducing an unwanted habit? (I am assuming in this example that you do not want your baby to always sleep in your bed).
This is where you can put the 1-2-3 rule to good use:
1. Emergency measure: you take your baby into bed with you (an unwanted habit for you)
2. Does it occur again in the same week? Then take your little one to bed again. But at the same time, make a plan: what will you do if it happens again? For example, will you comfort him in his own crib and count on a night (or few nights) with less sleep?
3. Implement plan. This way, you avoid habits you'd rather not have. Because after repeating them three times, habits begin to form.
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If you apply this 1-2-3 rule, you will see that you can really prevent unwanted habits.
Yet practice is often more difficult than theory. Sometimes it's so easy to give in anyway - because it's not so convenient right now. So you don't take step 3 this time. And before you know it, you are introducing unwanted habits.
So how convenient would it be if you didn't fall into unwanted habits so easily at all?
This is where the PIKO offers a solution. By using the PIKO you are less likely to fall into unwanted habits, because the PIKO gives you flexibility. So it doesn't matter if your baby is in bed with you just because it's convenient - because with the PIKO he still has his own familiar sleeping environment.
If you want more information about the PIKO, check out our PIKOsleeper- specially developed by sleep coaches.
Still have questions? Then send us a message, you will always get an answer.
Sleep well, Francien (sleep coach and founder PIKO)
